The Vermont Senate is expected to discuss and vote on an historic health care bill that would effectively create the path towards a single-payer system.

All Vermonters would be eligible under the tax-payer funded plan. Supporters also say it will be cheaper than the current system because it is more efficient.

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"We estimate we can save $500 million, and that's a conservative estimate," said Sen. Claire Ayer.

Their goal would be to have the bill on the Governor's desk by early May, but opponents want to take it much slower. They are worried that this whole process is going too fast for a bill that is too important.

"We are hoping we can spread it out over a day or two," said Republican Sen. Joe Benning. "This is probably the biggest piece of legislation to come out since the Civil War. We are talking about, not millions, but billions of dollars that are being discussed."

The total cost of the bill is still unclear since financing decisions won't be made until 2012. That has some small businesses and corporations like IBM concerned.

Supporters say they've tried to make this bill fair to everyone.

"We have accommodated them the best we can," said Ayer. "We haven't been able to come to an agreement that will make them happy."